The HOLON urban is a Level 4 autonomous vehicle designed to revolutionize urban mobility. It boasts a striking design from Pininfarina and is capable of both line-mode operation and on-demand transport, offering a flexible solution for evolving urban needs. HOLON is building its first factory in the U.S., with initial deployments planned for Germany, the U.S., and the Middle East. These vehicles are envisioned to provide last-mile transport, airports and campus shuttles, and contribute to greener public transport in metropolitan centers.

As for strategic partnerships and deployments Hamburg Hochbahn is partnering with HOLON in the ALIKE project, where the first public roads tests have started in Hamburg last year. And together with the Jacksonville Transport Authority, HOLON is pioneering the Bay Street Innovation Corridor – America's first permanently operated, connected and autonomous transportation service.

Supporting the HOLON urban passenger experience is a robust information system and connectivity solution developed by Passengera, designed to complement HOLON’s advanced autonomous technology.

HOLON sought an experienced partner with a flexible, ready-made software solution that could meet current and future demands for the HOLON urban and found them in the Czech tech company specializing in advanced digital solutions for public transportation.

"Passengers must not only feel safe but also fully informed at all times. This is absolutely crucial when they are putting their trust in a vehicle without a driver," says Jan Kolář, CEO of Passengera. "Our system ensures they receive all personalised, real-time journey information in visual and audio format, and can communicate directly with the control center if needed. Our system helps enhance the passenger experience by delivering clear, real-time information and communication tools, ensuring a smooth and reassuring journey in an autonomous environment.

"At HOLON, we are committed to delivering seamless, intelligent mobility solutions for public transportation. Our collaboration with Passengera is a natural fit—thanks to their exceptional expertise in integrating onboard systems from a wide range of vendors and their robust, field-proven backend infrastructure. Their technology plugs effortlessly into our cloud-based ecosystem, accelerating deployment and enhancing the passenger experience. Together, we are shaping the future of connected, autonomous public transport."
— Felix Dreier, Director of Autonomous and Connected Car Systems, Holon

Passengera contributes by providing the information system, connectivity, and cloud-based applications that support central system management within the vehicles, working in harmony with HOLON’s broader technology ecosystem.

This solution is built upon Passengera's multi-service onboard Gateway, which fulfills central control functions for the information system, connectivity and data exchange with the cloud applications. It manages content on internal and external displays, audio announcements, passenger counting, interfaces with the camera system, and secures communication with the cloud. The gateway also hosts other necessary applications for the smooth operation of the entire system.

Next-level Passenger Communication and User Experience

The user experience in the HOLON urban is designed to be distinct from traditional vehicles with drivers. Passengers are guided throughout their entire trip via smart displays and dynamic audio-visual announcements, providing real-time information on route progress, estimated arrival times, stops, or even unexpected changes. The system ensures passengers are fully informed from before boarding, during the ride, and upon exit.

To meet the flexibility required for planned deployments across different regions of the world, and to avoid treating each rollout as a custom project, Passengera collaborated with HOLON to develop the universal and highly adaptable HOLON Cloud. This environment enables complete fleet and in-vehicle system management and will also serve as the integration interface with the transport operator’s own systems.

A key feature of the solution is its ability to support on-demand mode, allowing routes to be adjusted dynamically and ensuring passengers receive accurate, real-time updates throughout their journey.

Ensuring System Integrity and Security in Autonomous Transport

Security is a critical aspect of the HOLON urban ecosystem. Passengera’s solution was developed to align with stringent automotive standards, ensuring its components integrate securely and reliably within the overall system.

The same applied to all partners involved in the project, each of whom had to align their technologies and processes with these high benchmarks. From connectivity to cloud integration and in-vehicle systems, every component underwent strict validation to ensure resilience, reliability, and compliance with automotive-grade requirements. This collective commitment to security not only guarantees regulatory conformity but also establishes a robust foundation for safe, scalable, and future-ready mobility services.

Global Expertise Fuelling European Innovation

Passengera began collaborating on the design and implementation of this comprehensive system for HOLON in 2023, leveraging its rich experience in global transportation technology, from onboard infotainment to secure and reliable connectivity solutions. This expertise includes large-scale projects such as providing connectivity solutions for Riyadh's futuristic metro network, one of the largest and autonomous metro systems in the world. Passengera has also contributed to other significant projects, including the connectivity and infotainment solutions for luxury trains of the Rhaetian Railways in Switzerland, trains to Machu Picchu or New Zealand’s Kiwi Rail.

HOLON's shuttle just had its debut in Hamburg in 2025 and will be expanding to other cities in the near future.

"We understand the complex intersection of passenger experience, data security, and operational reliability," Kolář concludes. "We're building more than just systems; we're building trust between passengers and a new era of autonomous mobility".

More about Passengera

Passengera is a Czech technology company that develops and delivers comprehensive digital solutions for trains, buses and other means of public transport worldwide. Its central modular platform brings a digital experience to public transport through on-board infotainment, internet connectivity, information systems and monetization tools for transport operators. Passengera can also design and implement the hardware to run the entire ecosystem. As a result, its solutions are among the global leaders - Passengera's services can be found, for example, in Czech Railways' fleets, on board Europe's Flixbus, or in the world's most modern metro project under construction in Riyadh.

More about HOLON

HOLON is a pioneer in autonomous mobility, dedicated to reshaping the future of public and shared transportation. Beyond developing and manufacturing innovative, self-driving shuttles, HOLON acts as a Mobility-as-a-Service provider together with its partners ioki and Benteler Mobility. This integrated approach combines vehicles, software, and financing into a single platform — enabling seamless operations for autonomous public transport. With a strong focus on inclusivity, safety, and sustainability, HOLON sets new benchmarks for reliable and connected mobility solutions worldwide.